The Rise of Disco
"Seventies Disco" was born in 1970 and rapidly washed out in 1980. Today in the 21st century, disco is still enjoyed. However, the flashy and bright colors have been toned down to costume parties or fancy dresses. The disco fashion began from the music played in underground night clubs in New York including: The Loft, Tenth Floor, and 12 West in the early 1970s. Saturday Night Fever, a popular movie that came out in 1977, promoted disco in a positive way to America. Disco then hung around for a few years before being washed out by punk rock. The rise of disco had an enormous impact on the American viewers since it was in music they heard on the radio, the films they watched, as well as the fashions they wore. Known as what
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people called an "urban gay culture," disco quickly spread through America in best-selling hits and films that brought the young adults an escape from reality with exciting sounds and energetic dance moves (Echols, 2010). It also brought new drugs to America, which also gave them an "escape from reality." The disco era impacted America in multiple ways including popular films and movies, hit songs and night clubs, which also impacted women's rights during the 1970s. Disco had a huge impact on the youth of America as well as the American culture as a whole. There was a thriving subculture of drugs especially those drugs that would that would make one feel better while dancing.
The drugs were meant to make the dancing experience unforgettable. This included drugs such as cocaine and amyl nitrite and would give a sensation that the dancer’s arms and legs had turned jell-O that was as a result of motor coordination suspension. The high quantities of drugs that were used in the discotheques developed another cultural phenomenon which led to public sex and increased promiscuity (Shapiro, 2005). The dance floor had become seduction arena but in the secluded places such as stairwells of exits and bathrooms, dancers engaged in actual sex. Discos would even be considered the right places for nights out with Studio 54 being good example of a bar that was full of hedonism. People used the balconies for drug use and floor of this bar was decorated with Man in the Moon and a spoon of cocaine as an …show more content…
image. In the late 1970s, the culture of rave started growing significantly. This was towards the coming to a close of the disco era (Powers 24). Rave culture was not any exceptional as it included disco cultures such as exploration of drug, dance music, hedonism and sexual promiscuity. The rave culture remained underground even with the disco culture having done well in the mainstream. This was so in order to prevent the animosity that was associated with the dance music and the disco. During the anti-disco backlash, the aspect of modern radio changed during later years. Country music started rising slowly in the main pop charts of America and the Amy record companies were reorganized, sold or folded during the decline period. Hip hop was highly influenced by the disco sound.
The existing disco lines of bass guitar were isolated and dubbing was done over them with a combination of MC rhymes. Electro music; a hip hop sound that was electronic spawned by the Planet Rock sound and comprised songs like “Play at Your Own Risk, One More Shot, Let the Music Play, Club under World and I Feel For You” (Powers 34). Nu disco a dance of 21st has been known as a music genre that has been linked with renewed interest on the 1970s and the 1980s dance. Besides, it’s associated with the aesthetics of the heavy synthesizer Euro disco and the Italo disco (Tim 2003). Vendors associate this type of disco with the American disco of the original era and other genres including electro that were popular in the 1970s.Frenchhouse and Electro clash were other genres in which Nu disco is
associated. The discos created a forum for gays to self-actualize themselves. This taste of freedom had only been allowed in the discos for subcultures such as the gays, African Americans and the Hispanics. After a long period of marginalization, they found discos so homely, welcoming and accommodative. Gays were among the first to spend nights in the discos in most bars in New York. This resulted into a much wider support for gays in the media which were followed by some extents of legal freedoms in 1971 in the city of New York. It is in the 1980s that when North America was faced with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. During this period, the disco dancers who were drug users and involved in irresponsible sex served as a momentum for the beginning of HIV infection. The continuity of the sexual revolution caused more infections and by 1990, approximately fifty thousand people were infected yet most of them were not aware that they were infected. This was attributed to the large number of youngsters who were the majorities in the discos but had no idea about the deadly virus. Thousands of people died in America between 1980 and 2000 as a result of disco music. Women withdrew in politics and instead they concentrated on pop culture. They listened to music such as The Joy of Sex and most of them used their freedom to do what they wished. In the discos they wore anything as long as it was attractive (Tricarico, 54). Women would wear mid skirts, short miniskirts, maxi dresses or even hot pants. They would call on the radio stations to request replay of songs that touched on their freedom and rights just as men. Their liberation was extremely personal. Several women also came up in the music industry where they were able to express themselves. The song “Love to Love You Baby” was recorded and aired in clubs, thus causing great sensation especially to women. It has since then been described as the arrival of women freedom on sex as it contained many simulated orgasms. (Inness 2003) It is no doubt that disco had a great influence on the American culture. Though it did not contribute to violence of any manner, it had several negative effects that were evident most of them being effects on morality, spirituality as well as ethical development. Irresponsible sex and drug abuse contributed to the erosion of the American culture. Many non-disco artists had already started recording disco songs due to its popularity but it declined towards the close of 1970s because of the political and economic transformations in United State. The other factors were attributed by the efforts to ban the hedonistic lifestyles brought about by the people who attended the discos.
Ten minutes after lining up, I went inside the nightclub. From the door, I could hear the song and the beat of the bass so loud that my heart could feel it. Inside the nightclub, I saw people were dancing everywhere, on dancing floor, on their own seats, everywhere. They would dance and take a big gulp of their beer. Even the bartenders were dancing too, following the rhythm of the loud funky music. The rainbow rays of light moved through the club to make the mood even more exciting and funky.
Many of drugs have been created to have different experiences when at a rave. Ecstasy
Throughout history, music have defined or depicted the culture and social events in America. Music has constantly played an important role in constituting American culture, where people have expressed themselves through music during flourishing and turbulent times. In the 1930’s, Swing music created a platform for audiences to vent their emotions in the midst of Great Depression and political unrest. Such strong relationship between music and culture can be seen throughout history, especially in the sixties.
The 1960s counterculture was a cultural sensation which first began to take shape in the United States and from there on it spread throughout the rest of the west. It spread sometime in the early sixties to early seventies. The counterculture sensation began to catch on quickly and it eventually went on to become groundbreaking. Several components contributed in making the counterculture of the 1960s a unique era from the other opposition movements of the previous eras. The post-war baby boom created an unexceptional amount of youngsters who were an integral part of making the counterculture movement. As the 1960s continued worldwide tensions began to develop in societies in which people followed the same strategies as their elders used to regarding the war in Vietnam, race relations, human sexuality, women's rights, traditional modes of authority, experimentation with psychoactive drugs, and differing interpretations of the American Dream. Several new cultural forms arose which included the Beatles and parallel to it was the growth of the hippie culture. This led to the fast development of the youth culture in which change and experimentation were mainly highlighted. Many songwriters, singers and musical groups from the US and around the world made a major impact on the counterculture movement which included the likes of the Beatles. Basically, the 1960s counterculture grew from a convergence of events and issues which served as the main substances for the remarkable speedy change during the decade.
The years 1960-1969 were very impressionable years. With events that changed America , turning the innocence and hope of American people into violence and anger. The young nation of the 60s were the most influential of all ,with rioting about war or turning music into culture. This was a completely different america than it was years before . In a Music standpoint artists such as The Beatles , Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix were changing the way music was made . They were changing music into an artform , a way for people to express their feelings , beliefs and ideas. The Music of the 1960s evolved into an artform which lead the path for American music of today.
When you almost any young kids, teenagers, or even young adults to define rock ‘n’ roll and who they believed are the pioneers of this genre, you shouldn’t be too surprised by the answer you receive: Elvis Presley, Nirvana, Rolling Stones, or Little Richard. The combination of sexuality, gyrating hips, and the chance to rebel against parents are all factors that made rock ’n’ roll successful, but blissfully unaware, a lot of people do not know that Rhythm and Blues (R&B) was actually a huge part of creating this new music genre, and that rock ‘n’ roll also signified a big change for African Americans in the 1950s.
Beginning with the late 1960’s counterculture in San Francisco, music and drugs will forever be inter-linked. Hippie bands such as the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and Phish are associated with marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD. Modern electronic “rave” , or club music is associated with MDMA or Ecstasy. When one thinks of rock and roll, sex and drugs immediately come to mind. While the use of drugs is not essential for the creation or performance of all new music, it was certainly in important factor for the counterculture music of the late 1960’s. While some of the most important and influential music was made with the help of psychoactive drugs, it was often to the detriment of the artist. Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and countless other tremendously talented artists had their lives cut short due to drug use. Drugs were most often good for the music, but deadly for the music makers.
Before we go any further, I think I should first dispel some rumors and ease your mind of the negative thoughts that must be sweeping through it. What do you think of when you hear the word rave? Drugs? Hoodlum kids running amuck? Loud music that interferes with the whole community’s sleeping habits? Violence? The dictionary defines the word “rave” as a numerous amount of things, such as “an act or instance” or the verb “to talk with extreme enthusiasm,” but this is one case where Webster has got it all wrong. What is the true definition of a rave? In most cases, a rave is simply a dance party where guests experience a sense of camaraderie and elevated consciousness through the presence of music. This means there is an abundance of dance expression, interaction with other such ravers, and a positive mood change. And while there are sometimes drugs involved, there is absolutely no deliberate disturbance of the peace and zero tolerance for violence. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s divulge into the history of this invigorating phenomenon.
Vinyl as a music medium in the making of a significant comeback with the young while for many of us it never left. Many new and young artist are embracing vinyl and places like Vinyl Revival are helping to promote and celebrate that rebirth. What is and where is Vinyl Revival?
Defined by a popular culture that manages to thrive even in today’s society, the 1960s is a decade that refuses to die. Bell-bottoms, free love, incense, and psychedelic rock is a style that, although at the time was labeled as corrupt, anarchistic, and radi...
Music is an outlet to all aspects of life and culture is a significant way of forming people and the way they live. Although not always seen directly culture has an overbearing influence on the music that is produced and made popular. The political Climate of the early seventies was full of fire with issues such as Vietnam and constant protest throughout the county. Later in the 70’s the end of the Vietnamese conflict brought the rise of the Watergate scandal and Iran Contra. These issues swept headlines and ingrained people’s thoughts. Social issues also played a big role in the developing culture of the seventies. Protests and constant outbreaks about gay rights and women’s rights seemed to overtake the country in storm. Later in the Decade the social climate changed to a celebration of the Past and a can-do attitude. Political and Social climates had an overbearing influence on the attitude that was being developed throughout the seventies. This climate was also transparent in the music world of this decade. In the early 70’s music lyrics were being created that were representative of the popular method of protest and social change. Music is a common way of expression and during this time artist and groups took the most of their popular music by expressing viewpoints on present issues. In the mid to late seventies the birth of new styles that broke from the old seemed to dominate the music industry. These new types of music ranged from disco to television pop. The music of the decade represented the culture and was greatly influenced by events and beliefs of the 70’s. At this time in American history, music and life became closely nit. In the late 1970’s, national issues settl...
In the 50s and 60s, greasers were teens, also known as “hoods.” They were called greasers because they wore lots grease to style their hair. Most greasers lived in poor neighborhoods, hence the name “hoods” and were working-class people. Greasers usually wore leather jackets, denim jeans, white or black fitted t-shirts and motorcycle boots. They were the kind of people who were rebellious, defiant, and disobedient. Greasers went against the rules and smoked cigarettes. This subculture began in Southern and Eastern American after the World War II. This subculture is so important because it helped show that being different from others and thinking unlike the rest can be
The Martian, a 2015 film, extensively uses disco music as a soundtrack, although for the main character, astronaut Mark Watney, there's only one thing worse than being stranded on Mars: it's being stranded on Mars with nothing but disco music. Many Motown groups who had left the record label charted with disco songs. As disco's popularity sharply declined in the United States, abandoned by major U.S. record labels and producers, European disco continued evolving within the broad mainstream pop music scene. Another Euro disco act was the French Amanda Lear, where Euro-disco sound is most heard in Enigma song. Dalida successfully adjusted herself to disco era and released at least a dozen of songs that charted among top number 10 in whole Europe and wider. Most disco songs have a steady four-on-the-floor beat, a quaver or semi-quaver hi-hat pattern with an open hi-hat on the off-beat, and a heavy, syncopated bass
Since the 1980’s, electronic music has become a staple in a lot of mainstream music genres. In the 1990’s though, electronic music branched out and became its own genre with a huge and very loyal following. EDM music, or as it’s also commonly referred to, Techno starting appearing in not only the underground scene, but also in the more common music outlets such as the radio. My goal as this research assignment progresses is to not only study the rave subculture, but also learn more about them to educate those who are not aware or do not understand it. I started with finding out more about locations that the subculture inhabits. My experience was incredible, but just the location itself was amazing to me. I enjoyed the opportunity to really get out there and have fun, but also do more research and create connections to further my research of the subculture as the semester progresses.
Its distinctive sound can be found scattered on recordings across the genres from pop to dance music throughout the eighties